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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: mug · staff · rock · net · track · bulb · tube · field

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. staff — a stick
  3. mug — a cup
  4. field — a subject
  5. mug — to rob
  6. staff — employees
  7. tube — a container
  8. tube — the underground
  9. track — to keep track
  10. rock — music
  11. net — for catching
  12. track — a path
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. bulb — for light
  15. net — after costs
  16. rock — a stone
  17. bulb — for light
  18. staff — employees
  19. net — in sport
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. field — farmland
  22. track — a song
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. field — for sport

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com